Water column



vw. F. A. BENIGER May 30, 1944.

' WATER COLUMN- Filed Nov. 9, 1942 Patented May 30, 1944 WATER COLUMN William "Frederick Alexander Benger, Montreal,

Quebec, Canada Application November 9, 1942, SerialNo. 465,076

2 Claims.

This invention relates to water columns for boilers and more particularly for locomotive steam boilers. Such boilers are provided with devices for determining the level of the water in the boiler over the crown sheet.

At one time this water level was determined by try cocks mounted directly on the rear head of the boiler. However, it appeared that these try cocks did not always give correct readings because in many cases in spite of a try cock indication of the presence of water the crown sheet was, nevertheless, found to be burnt and in some cases there were boiler explosions.

To overcome these difficulties glass water gauges were mounted directly on the rear head of the boiler but the try cocks were retained, since it was considered desirable that the boiler should carry some indicating device which would function if the glass water gauge were to break. The glass water gauges were bound to give correct readings and also, therefore, often to disagree with the try cock readings. It was necessary, therefore, to find some way of mounting the try cocks which would enable them also to give correct readings at all times, particularly when the locomotive was operating with the throttle valve of the engine open since it was noticed that in these circumstances the difierence between the try cock and water glass indications was greatest.

For this latter purpose a water column was mounted on the rear head of the boiler and the try cocks and glass water gauge were connected to it. The column consisted of a vertically disposed cylinder having top and bottom connections to the boiler, the top connection leading to the steam space and the bottom connection leading to the water space of the boiler. Water columns of this type required large size connections at the base of the column to the back head of the boiler and a large size copper pipe connection from the top of the column to the top of the boiler. No valve was provided in the upper pipe connection because of the possibility that it might be shut off with the result that incorrect readings of the water level would be given. Consequently the arrangement was dangerous because the pipe connection might, and did in some cases, fail with the result that owing to the lack of any shut-off valve the engine was killed and the engineer sometimes seriously injured.

The present invention has been devised to eliminate the undesirable features of the prior arrangements, that is to give accurate reading without an inherently dangerous construction.

It consists of a water column which is much smaller in size than those heretofore used and so takes up less space on the rear head of the boiler where little space is available owing to the many necessary appliances which must be within easy reach and sight of the engineer. The lower connection from the column to the boiler is at right angles to the column as heretofore. The upper end of the column, however, is provided with a tube which extends angularly inside the boiler towards the top of the latter into the steam space. With this construction the steam can be taken from the top of the boiler but there are no long exterior pipe connections which may fail and cause damage to the engine and injury to the engineer. This water column is provided with the usual try cocks and might also have glass water gauges applied to it if desired. If such gauge is not applied, then the usual gauge applied directly to the rear head of the boiler will be used as the second indicating device.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of the water column mounted on the rear head of a boiler; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

As mentioned above the water column covered by this invention is much smaller than those used heretofore. As a matter of fact the preferred construction is approximately 14%." long. The body of the water column is indicated by reference numeral l0 and is provided with three outwardly extending necks II on which are mounted try cocks l2. The try cocks are preferably staggered as shown in the drawing. A drain Valve I3 is provided in the bottom of the column. As mentioned previously the water column is vertically mounted on the rear head of they boiler I4, the lower connection [5 to the boiler being at right angles to the column. The lower connection is located slightly above the highest part of the crown sheet l6 of the boiler, and is provided with an extension I! which projects inwardly into the water space of the boiler.

The upper connection l8 slopes inwardly toward the boiler and upwardly toward the top thereof. This upper connection is provided with a somewhat larger extension l9 which projects inwardly into the steam space of the boiler and upwardly toward the top thereof. The column is fitted closely to the rear head and the upper and lower connections are securely welded as indicated by reference numeral 20. The upper and lower extensions must be cleaned periodically with a reamer which may be inserted through suitable openings which are normally closed by plugs 2!.

The water column is preferably mounted on the rear head of the boiler in such a manner that the lower connection is slightly above the highest part of the crown sheet. Pilot holes are partially drilled in the water column casting for the extensions I 1 and I9 before the column is Welded to the rearheadof the boiler. When the column has been welded in proper position suitable holes are drilled and tapped through the water column casting for the rear head of the boiler to suit the extensions l1 and I9. The correct position of the top of the crown sheet is then detersion l1 and the lower connection l5 and seeks its own level in the column. Steam enters the water column through the upper extension l9 and the upperconnection l8. This steam causes a downward pressure on the water in the column and corrects the water level in the try cocks l2. The lower try cock indicates the danger level for water in the boiler while the upper two try cocks will on being opened indicate whether the Water is at those levels.

By using a water column of this type the hazardous pipe connections from the top of the column to the top of the boiler are eliminated. Furthermore a more accurate reading of the level of the water in the boiler may be obtained. The column is much smaller than those used heretofore and. takes up less space on the rear head of the boiler.

I claim:

l. The combination with the rear head of a boiler, of a vertically disposed water column having an upper connection to the rear head of the boiler, said connection extending angularly within and toward the top of the boiler and terminating in the steam space of the latter.

, 2. The combination with the rear head of a boiler, of a vertically disposed water column, having a lower connection to the rear head at right angles to the column, and an upper connection to the rear head extending angularly within and toward the top of the boiler and terminating in the steam space of the latter.

WILLIAM FREDERICK ALEXANDER BENGER'. 

